Electrical appliance



Oct. 11, 1932. R. c. JOHNSON 1,882,385

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l flf- I Inventor 2 Jlnsoi A Ilomey Oct. 11, 1932.

R. c. JOHNSON ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invcnlor P C. Jo 2x0 Allorney Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES 3013mm 0. JOHNSON, er sm'r'rm, wasnm'eron,

atacrarcn sermon Application manna a, mo. semi 10.171915.

This invention relates broadly to electrical appliances and the primary'ob ect of this invention is to provide an extension base out let.

5 As is well known in theart, wall outlets are stationarily mounted on the wall and the plug on the free end of the cord of an electric lamp, iron or the like is inserted into the plug of the outlet base and since under ordinary conditions, the plug of the outlet base is fixed, the electric lamp or the like cannot always be positioned at a desired location because of the length of the cord of the electric lamp.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a base outlet whereby the plug thereof may be extended or removed to a point remote from the outlet to compensate for the lack of length of the cord of the electric lamp or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through my improved extension space outlet and looking at the outlet from one side thereof,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 looking at the outlet from the opposite side thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a plan view of an end Wall or cover plate,

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the outlet base,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the combined terminal and support for the reel,

Figure 7 is a plan view of another form of terminal embodied in the invention,

Figure 8 is a plan view of another terminal embodied in the invention,

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved extension outlet base comprises a casing that includes a peripheral wall 1 to which may be suitably bolted removable end plates or walls 2. The casing will of course be formed of any suitable insulated material. The peripheral 1 has integral therewith a tangential enlargement or flange 3 at the mouth of'the casing),e and to the enlargement or flange 3 may suitably secured a plate 4, that in general structure is identical to the t of plate usually employed in outlet base constructions. I

Arran ed in the casing and extending diametrica 1y thereof is a pair of suitable elongated terminals 4 respectively provided at one end with an inwardl directed extension 5 adapted to be received m a suitable recess 6 provided therefor in the enlarged portion of the casing. The lateral ends 5 of the terminal are equipped with suitable set screws 8 to facilitate attachment thereto of the end of the positive and negative wires of an electric circuit from a suitable source of supply.

Rotatably supported in the casing is a flanged reel 9 formed from suitable insulated material for rotatably supporting the reel 9 in the casing, one of the terminals 4 is provided with an inwardly directed pintle 10, and the other of the terminals 4 is provided with an inwardly directed pintle 11.

A relatively large cup-sha ed contact member 12 is dis osed to one si e of the reel 9, and the member 12 includes a centrally located axiall bored extension 13 embedded in the hub o the reel. The member 13 is adapted to accommodate the bore at the free end of the pintle 11. The terminal 14 is provided at one end thereof with an integral cylindrical axially bored sleeve 15 that projects laterally therefrom and is embedded in the opposite side of the hub of reel 9.

The axially bored sleeve 15 is adapted to accommodate the free end of the pintle 10, and thus it will be seen that the pintles 10 and 11 cooperate to provide as it were a shaft for rotata ly supporting the reel 9'in the casing.

The terminal 12 has an integral angular arm 16 that projects through a portion of the hub of the reel and at its free end is disposed against the inner face of one flange of the loo reel. The terminal 14 likewise has an end portion thereof extendin through the reel and at said end is dispo a inst the inner face ofthe other flange of t e reel. To the last referred to end of the terminal 14, and to the inner end of the arm 16 of terminal 12 may be secured one end of the positive and negative wires of an electrical cord 17 that is wound upon the reel 9 between the flanges of the latter.

For automatically winding the cord 17 upon the reel, there is provided a suitable spring 18 that is arran ed within the confines of an outstanding perlpheral rim 19 formed on one flange of the reel 9. The spring 18 has one end thereof suitably secured as at 20 to the pintle 10, and the opposite end of the spring is suitably secured to the rim 19 as at 21. The purpose of the spring is to normally urge the reel to rotate in one direction.

-During winding and unwinding thereof, the cord 17 is adapted to move through a suitable opening 22 provided therefor in the thickened portion 3 of the casing. The opening22 at its outer end merges into a somewhat semi-sphericalseat 23 for accommodating the correspondingly shaped body of an outlet plug 24. When the cord 17 is wound upon the reel, it will be seen that the body 24 fitting within the seat 23 will prevent the plug 24 being drawn into the casing, and will thus maintain the plug in position to be readily asped for unwinding the cord 17 when it is desired to position the outlet plug 24 at any desired location remote from the casing.

The plug 24 has the body thereof provided with a rearwardly extending axially bored cylindrical neck 25 in which is suitably retained the free ends of the positive and negative wires of the cord 17.

The said free ends of the positive and negative wires of the cord 17 are equipped with suitable spring contact fingers 26, 27 mounted in upper and lower spaced recesses 28 extending inwardly from the frontor outer face of the plug. Obviously, the fingers 26, 27 are adapted to engage and coact with the contact prongs of the plug with which one end of an electric light cord or the like is usually equipped when the prongs or contact fingers of the electric cord are inserted in said recesses 28 providing an electrical connection between the electric cord 17 andthe cord of the electric lamp, iron or the like.

To prevent rotation of the reel 9 under action of spring 18, when the cord 17 is extended outwardly of the casing, there is pivotally mounted within the terminal 12 a pair of diametrically opposed dogs 29 that have their free ends suitably beveled or otherwise formed to cooperate with grooves 30 formed .on diametrically opposite sides of the pintle 11. Dogs 29 operate by centrifugal force, it being apparent, that when the spool is rotated for paying out the cable 17, the dogs will swing outwardly out of engagement with the grooves 30 and when the cord has been extended the desired length stoppin rotation the cord 17 normally retracted within the casing, the outer or front end of the plug 24 will be arranged in the opening 40 of the plate 40 that is in registry with the seat 23, it being understood of course that the plug 24 will be suitably arranged or seated on said seat 23. When it is desired to arrange an electric lamp, electric iron or the like in suitable circuit, and at the same time to have the electric lamp so positioned, remote from the base outlet, as that under ordinary circumstances the plug of the cord of the electric lamp should only be operatively engaged with the plug of the base outlet by lengthening the cord of the electric lamp, it isapparent, that through the medium of a base outlet comprehended by the present invention, the plug 24 of the outlet may be placed in position to facilitate connection of the plug 24 with the plug of the lamp cord merely by extending the cord 17 for the necessary portion of its length outwardly of the casing, thus eliminating the necessity of splicing an auxiliary electric cord to the cord of the electric lamp as has heretofore been the case.

When the cord 17 is so extended, the same will be retained against rewinding on the reel 9 through the medium of the dogs 29 engaging the grooves. When it is not desired to use the electric lamp or other electrical appliance, the plug 24 may be readily disconnected with the plug of the cord of the electric appliance, and the cord 17 may be then retracted or wound about the reel 9 under action of the spring 18 as is apparent.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An electrical base outlet comprising a substantially cylindrical casing and a flange integral with the periphery thereof tangential to the casing and having a flat face, the periphery of the casing at the flange portion thereof being provided with an opening the axis of which is substantially tangential to said casing, a spring actuated reel mounted of said casing for accommodating an electris 7 cal plug. I a 2. An electrical wall outlets including in combination an apertured outlet plate, a cylindrical casing secured thereto, and provided -in its periphery with an aperture reg-' istering with the aperture of said outlet plate, said outlet plate extending tangential to said casing, an electrical plug received in the alined apertures, a reel rotatably mounted in the casing, contact-bars on opposite sides of the reel and projecting at one end outwardly through the periphery of the casing, contacts on opposite sides of the reel, and an electris cal cord windable on the reel and electrically connected at one end with said plug and at the other end with said contacts. ,7 r In testimony whereof I aflix m si ture.

ROBERT C. JO SON. 

